Page 16 of Rescuing Josiah
“No need for apologies, Mrs. Fleet. I can see how concerned he is for you. He must love you a great deal,” the doctor said as he walked over to her and picked up her arm, readying it to set up the IV.
If only that were true.
What she wouldn't give to make Josiah fall in love with her.
But Chelsea had long ago accepted the fact that it was never going to happen. Her love would remain unrequited, and she seemed helpless to shut down her feelings, move on, and find someone who could love her back.
“Thank you for understanding.” She shot the doctor as warm a smile as she could muster.
“Love leads people to do things they wouldn't normally consider. It changes people in ways they don’t even understand.” Dr. Wood met her gaze squarely. “I understand that better than most, Mrs. Fleet. That’s why I'm here.”
Chapter
Five
May 13th
2:37 P.M.
His fists slammed into the bag over and over again.
Pain radiated up his arms.
It wasn't enough.
Didn't matter how many times he hit the damn bag, the fear inside him didn't abate.
Josiah hadn't felt as scared in a long time as he had in the moment when Chelsea collapsed in his arms.
Faking.
It had all been a trick.
Anger.
He’d been furious with her. Didn't she get that it was bad enough she was undercover with him, risking her life, without the skills necessary to give her a good chance of survival? Obviously, she didn't if she could take things a step further and tempt fate.
What if the doctor had admitted her? What if he’d run more tests that they were unprepared for? Chelsea wasn't sick, herkidneys were fine, if the ring found out that she was faking, she would find herself on a table ready to be carved up. He would, too, not that he cared about his own life, but Chelsea’s …
After watching his team get gunned down around him, surviving only because he hadn't yet taken off his body armor when the others had, he’d shut down. Ruthlessly rid himself of all emotions except for anger. It was the only way to survive.
But today he’d felt fear.
Terror.
Actually believed that something was wrong with her, that the medication she was taking to simulate some of the symptoms she should be having with kidney failure had made her sick. Or worse.
She’d been so cavalier about the whole thing, too. Jumping up as soon as they were alone and pulling out her gadgets. It wasn't a bad idea, and if she’d told him ahead of time what she intended to do, he might even have gone along with it.
Probably wouldn't have, but there was the slimmest of possibilities.
More than likely he would have taken the microphone and cameras in his pocket, pretended to leave something behind, then when the doctor was with Chelsea in the hall, go back to get it and plant their surveillance devices. That would have been the safest option, but Chelsea didn't seem to care about safety.
It was like she had some sort of death wish.
Logically, he knew that she did not. They’d known one another for years now, and there was no one sweeter, more caring and kind, with a bigger heart, than Chelsea Pierce. She was every bit as sunshiny as the sun itself, and she saw the best in everyone. Despite all of that, she had a good head on her shoulders, she was smart and funny, observant and attentive to detail, and great at her job.
She was doing this because the trafficking ring had targeted their team, and she wanted to do her part to help stop them. He got all of that, and yet he couldn’t seem to find his usual distance.
